SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team lost 9-5 to East Tennessee State University at Russell C. King Field on Sunday afternoon. The Terriers (33-18, 11-7) celebrated their 11 seniors before the game. The Buccaneers (30-19, 10-8) opened the game with five runs in the third inning before adding four more unanswered runs in late innings. Wofford cut into ETSU's lead with a pair of home runs by
Ben Timblin and a ninth-inning push with three runs but were ultimately short of the comeback.
Miller Alston made his first start of the season and pitched two innings, giving up just one hit with three strikeouts.
John Gray,
Champ Davis,
Corben Childers,
PJ Fitzpatrick and
Cole Draper all pitched in relief.
Ben Timblin had two solo home runs to lead the offense.
The game was scoreless through two innings before the Buccaneers broke through in the third. ETSU started their inning with a double and hit by pitch. Four singles and a sacrifice bunt followed in the inning to give the Buccaneers a 5-0 lead over Wofford.
Tanner Hardin led off for the Terriers with a single to center field, but the Terriers stranded two runners to end the third inning.
Wofford held ETSU two a pair of base runners in the fourth inning, neither of whom scored. Leading off in the bottom of the fourth,
Ben Timblin hit a solo home run on first pitch deep to centerfield to bring the game to 5-1.
Lucas Manning was hit by a pitch and
Hunter Herndon singled, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the Terriers' half of the inning. After both teams were retired in order in the fifth inning, the Buccaneers opened the sixth with a double. With two outs, a wild pitch gave ETSU a 6-1 lead.
Ben Timblin opened Wofford's sixth inning with another leadoff home run to center field to cut ETSU's lead to 6-2.
The Buccaneers led off the seventh with a single. A throwing error and a walk loaded the bases. Two singles advanced ETSU's lead to 9-2. In the bottom of the eighth inning,
Niko Brini led off and reached on an error, but he was stranded. The Buccaneers led off the ninth with a single, but a fly ball and double play ended the top half of the inning. Pinch hitter
Andrew Mannelly walked to start off the bottom of the ninth. With two outs,
Brady Gold was hit by pitch.
Cade Collins singled to drive in both runners for a 9-4 score. The Terriers comeback attempt saw
Niko Brini hit a triple to center field to bring in one more run to cut ETSU's lead 9-5. However, a strikeout ended the ball game.
Quick Hits:
- Starting Lineup: Cade Collins (3B), Niko Brini (CF), Logan Tribble (LF), Ben Timblin (RF), Lucas Manning (C), Marc Quarrie (DH), Hunter Herndon (1B), Tanner Hardin (2B), Brady Gold (SS), and Miller Alston (SP).
- The seniors celebrated before today's game were Logan Tribble, James Layman, Andrew Mannelly, Lucas Manning, Branton Little, Champ Davis, Sheldon Egger, Raul Feliz, Hunter Herndon, Niko Brini and John Gray.
- Ben Timblin hit two home runs in today's outing, giving him 13 on the season and six in conference play.
The Terriers are on the road for the regular season series finale at Samford, starting Thursday, May 14, with first pitch at 4 p.m. CT, streaming on ESPN +.
Â
